On Saturday, the sun should be out in Tampa, Florida. That’s why we handicap a couple of interesting turf races. The other race we make picks for is the sixth, a 5 ½ furlong dirt sprint. Check out top plays and Horse Racing Odds from Tampa Bay Downs for Saturday, May 2. You can also visit our Online Racebook to place your bets on active racetracks.
Tampa Bay Downs Horse Racing Picks
- When: Saturday, May 2 at 12:20 pm ET
- Where: Tampa, FL
- Weather: Mostly Sunny
- Temperature: High 87 – Low 67
Tampa Bay Downs Picks for Saturday, May 2
Race 5 – 2:29 pm ET – 1 Mile Turf – $16,000 Claiming
Not every race presents overlay opportunities. Race 5 at Tampa Bay on Saturday is one of those non-overlay events. 2/1 morning line chalk Tatterazzi should waltz to the finish line. The John Terranova trained filly broke her maiden in February. Terranova tried her in an $18,000 allowance on April 3. She finished fifth but she had the lead as they turned for home. The drop in class should be all it takes for Tatterazzi to score.
Jockey Gary Wales figures to get a great trip aboard Finest Jewel. Tatterazzi does face other speed in this. If any of that other speed softens up the top choice, Finest Jewel will be there to pounce. The Sky Mesa sired 4-year-old finished second in her last. The cut back in distance might help because she breaks from the rail, which means Gary can save ground.
Catsoutofthebag has enough speed to either take the lead from Tatterazzi out of the gate or track. The morning line second choice showed speed and faded in her last couple. Both those races were at higher levels than this. Also, Cats cuts back in distance. If Tatterazzi doesn’t fire, she can go gate-to-wire, making Catsoutofthebag a must use on top and bottom.
- Win: Tatterazzi
- Place: Finest Jewel
- Show: Catsoutofthebag
Race 6 – 3:01 pm ET – 5 ½ Furlongs Dirt –$8,000 Claiming
4/1 on the morning line Field Letters should get a nice spot right behind the speed. The Anthony Granitz trained runner heads into this off a win. The 5-year-old mare fell back off quick fractions before a 6-wide advance that she finished off with a 2 ¼ length win. Field Letters should get a similar pace setup on Saturday.
Trainer Angel Rodriguez wins 32% first off the claim. The 32% is legit because it’s from 70 runners. Golden Nole hasn’t raced since January. That was a $16,000 claimer. The drop in class will help while Nole has 2 wins from 5 races at the distance.
Return the Favor goes second time for trainer Francisco Machado. In her first for Machado, she relaxed on the lead and pulled away to a 2 length victory. There’s other quality speed signed on for this. That should hurt her win chances. But she can hang on for third.
- Win: Field Letters
- Place: Golden Nole
- Show: Return the Favor
Race 9 – 4:37 pm ET – 1 Mile Turf –$20,000 Claiming
Kent Sweezy wins just 6% with his first out maiden winners. On May 2, Pert might help with that percentage. The Tonalist sired 3-year-old filly heads into her first against winners. It took Pert seven races to break her maiden. But now that she’s got a taste for winning, she might go back-to-back. If she runs the way she did in the maiden score, everyone else will be fighting for the place money.
Sugar Fix projects as the trip horse. The Michael Dini trained runner breaks from the rail and drops from $32K claimers. Sugar Fix has 2 wins and a second from 5 races at this mile distance. We’d make her first, but Fix could get stuck on the rail, hampering her chances to get to the top choice.
Kathleen O’Connell trained Matinee Girl looked great in her last. She took the lead and never looked back, winning by 1 ¼ lengths. At the top of the stretch, Matinee Girl had a 9 length lead, though. This field is tougher than the one she faced on March 13.
- Win: Pert
- Place: Sugar Fix
- Show: Matinee Girl
